Target of joined track sections



y 29, 1969 L. L. MONZULLA ET AL 3,458,196

TARGET 0F JOINED TRACK SECTIONS Filed Sept. 12, 1966 INVENTOR.

L YL E L. MONZULLA y JAMES SANTOLINO mmm ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,458,196 TARGET 0F J OINED TRACK SECTIONS Lyle L. Monzulla, RR. 3, Box 276, Crown Point, Ind. 46307, and James Santolino, 5173 Adams St., Gary, Ind. 46408 Filed Sept. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 578,651 Int. Cl. A63f 9/02 U.S. Cl. 273-103 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A target game in which a ball is thrown or lobbed at one of a series of cups, the object being to have the ball enter a target cup. The target game comprises a series of funnel like cups which are open ended and mounted in spaced apart holes provided in a plurality of track sections connected together end to end by sleeve members. The ball is discharged from the cup into a trough to return to the player. The elongated track is positioned at an incline to provide a rolling incline for the ball.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in games and more particularly to a ball and cup target game.

The object of this invention is to provide a target device for a ball throwing game which is very economical to manufacture, easy to play and which will afford considerable amusement and require skill to play.

Another object of this invention is to provide a target device for a ball throwing game which is constructed to provide for the return of the ball automatically, without moving parts, and which contributes to the continuance of the game being played.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the target game device of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged end view of my invention sectioned along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the track of my invention shown in fragment and sectioned at line 3--3 of FIGURE 2 showing the means and manner of connecting the cup target to the track in detail; and

FIGURE 4 is a pictorial view of this invention in operation.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral generally designates the game of my invention which comprises a plurality of cup targets 12 spacedly mounted on an elongated track 14. It is preferred that track 14 comprise a plurality of similar track components 16, 18 and 20 connected end to end by any convenient means such as telescoping sleeve members 22 to support track components 16, 18 and 20 in a generally longitudinally coaxial posture. Track components 16, 18 and 29 each comprise an elongated, horizontal top panel or shelf 24, an elongated, horizontal bottom panel or shelf 26 having an upwardly angled edge or lip 28, and a vertical side 30 longitudinally connecting top shelf 24 and bottom shelf 26 to support top shelf 24 in vertically spaced relation to bottom shelf 26. Vertical side 30 and bottom shelf 26 together with its upwardly angled edge 28 form a trough means 32 to contain and guide the travel of ball 34 deposited therein. Top shelf 24 is provided with longitudinally spaced apart openings 36, the edges of which are conventionally adapted such as by being provided with radially extending notches 38 to lock- 3,458,196 Patented July 29, 1969 ingly receive cup targets 12. A cut target 12 is preferably formed as a frusto-conical, open ended receptacle adapted to receive at its large end 40 a ball 34, and to discharge said ball through its reduced end 42 onto trough means 32 of track 14. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, end 42, or cup target 12 is provided with a collar 44- to seat cup target 12 on the top side of shelf 24. Reduced end 42 is provided with radially extending lugs 46 by which means cup target 12 is anchored in an opening 36 of top shelf 24.

Distal end of track 14 is raised to provide a longitudinal slope to track 14 by any convenient means such as leg 48 which is formed to connectingly support the distal end of track 14 in a raised position to provide an incline for trough means 32.

In the operation of the game of this invention, the object thereof is to provide a row of target receptacles 12 arranged on and supported by a track 14 so that upon receiving ball 34 as a result of a successful target strike, the ball is automatically delivered in the direction of the declined end of track 14 by passing through open end 42 of target 12 in opening 36 of top shelf 24, and onto trough means 30. The structure of the game of my invention contribues to the deliverance of ball 34 so that the game is kept in progress with the minimum of unnecessary physical exertion. The participant may continue his target throws so long as the ball is returned by trough means 32 which is accomplished by striking the cup target 12. Upon missing the cup target, the ball is not returned and the progress of the game is interrupted. This occasion may be used to calculate a score or determine a cycle when another participant may play the game.

It is apparent from the above description that the target device of this invention is extremely simple to manufacture, having no moving parts; may be made compact and easily portable. It is simple to operate and has inherent in it construction a structure which contributes to the automatic continuance or discontinuance of the target game. It is understood that modifications may be made in the structure of this invention without departing from the spirit of this invention and accordingly it is our desire to secure Letters Patent which fall within the fair scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A game device comprising:

a plurality of elongated track sections,

said track sections including an elongated trough means,

said track sections having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes spaced above said trough means;

a plurality of sleeve sections connecting said plurality of track sections end to end; and

a target receptacle mounted in each of said holes,

said target receptacle being open ended to provide passageway means through said hole in said track means.

2. The game deveice of claim 1 wherein each of said elongated track sections further is characterized by comprising a longitudinally extending horizontal top shelf, a longitudinally extending horizontal bottom shelf, and a vertical side connnecting said horizontal top shelf and said bottom shelf the length thereof to support said top shelf in vertical space relation to said bottom shelf, said vertical side and said bottom shelf forming the trough of said trough means; and said plurality of longitudinally spaced holes of said track sections being provided in said horizontal top shelf.

3. A game device comprising:

a plurality of elongated track sections,

said track sections including an elongated trough means,

said track sections having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes spaced above said trough means;

a plurality of sleeve members;

said track sections being removably connected end to end by said sleeve members;

a target receptacle mounted in each of said holes,

said target receptacle being open ended to pro- 10 vide a paasageway means through said hole in said track sections; and a stand means connected to an end track section to raise said plurality of connected track sections to incline said trough means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,528,661 3/1925 Ewing 273-105 2,326,859 8/1943 Hoover. 3,069,805 12/1962 Burrows 4643 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner MAX R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 273l05 

